Adopt Fuel-Efficient Driving Habits
On the Road
Your personal driving habits could be having a significant impact on your fuel consumption and costs. The following list of fuel-efficient driving tips will help you to reduce emissions and minimize costs associated with the way in which you operate your car.
For further information on how you can drive more efficiently, please consult Natural Resource Canada's Office of Energy Efficiency (OEE).
Tips
•Drive at the posted speed limit. Quick Fact:1
•Avoid abrupt stops and starts. The more smoothly you drive, the less gas you will use. Quick Fact: 1
•Use cruise control on the highway to maintain a steady speed and reduce fuel consumption as well as speeding tickets.
•If you drive a car with standard/manual transmission, avoid driving in lower gears, since this uses more fuel. Change into your highest gear as soon as possible.
•If stopping for 10 seconds or more, except in traffic, turn your engine off to avoid idling. This is particularly important if you drive a diesel-powered vehicle, since diesel engines stay warmer when turned off than when idling. Quick Fact: 1,2,3,4,5,6,7
• In winter, avoid idling a cold engine for more than 30 seconds. Quick Fact: 1,2,3
•Avoid using a remote starter, since it will increase the amount of time your car sits idling.
•Use a block heater to warm your car's engine when the temperature drops below zero degrees Celsius. Quick Fact: 1
•Install a timer to switch on your car's block heater one or two hours before you plan to drive.
•Remove roof racks and roof storage units when not in use to reduce aerodynamic drag and fuel consumption.
•Remove unnecessary items from your trunk. The lighter your car, the higher your fuel efficiency.
•Use your vehicle's air conditioner sparingly, especially in stop-and-go traffic. Try opening the windows or using fresh air vents to cool your vehicle. Quick Fact: 1
•Try to use fresh air vents on the highway. Air conditioning uses around the same amount of fuel as having the windows open. Open windows are the worst option, since they create drag and force your engine to work harder.
•Shut off any power-consuming gadgets in your car before turning off the engine to lessen the power load when you restart your vehicle.
